Fairmont Copley Plaza

Character and identity

A 1912 grande dame on Copley Square, this 383-room landmark trades on red awnings, a sprawling red carpet at the entrance, and a lobby of marble, oak, plum and blue seating, crystal chandeliers and grand staircases that still pulls in film crews and Boston regulars. Rooms layer elegant fabrics and marble with custom black-and-white sketches of the city for a more contemporary feel. OAK Long Bar + Kitchen, built around a large wood-burning oven, anchors the dining and after-work drinks scene, while a 3,000-square-foot rooftop gym with floor-to-ceiling Back Bay views sits on the top floor.

Who's it for

Bottom line

What you are really booking is the address and the architecture: a century-old Copley Square landmark whose public spaces still feel like the centre of Boston. Splash out on a room overlooking Copley Square to make the location count, factor in the Urban Experience Fee on flexible and package rates, and time a stay around summer festivals or winter skating in the square.